Ok,

I hate to be one of the whiney girls but I need some advice please. I went from 264 to 180 in 9 months about 2 years ago on the WW 123 success plan. I have now rejoined as I am getting married in7 months and started at 196 and change. In 5 weeks I've only lost 6.6 lbs -4.8, +0.2, -1.6, -0.6 (OK, ok, ok, i know i shouldn't say ONLY but I don't feel as though i am progressing as I should)

I have now switched from Walk away the pounds (2 miles) to 30 minutes on an eliptical trainer every day (a "you lost 5 lbs" present from my fiancee) and ALWAYS eat within my 22-27 pt range.

Any ideas as to how to get the ball rolling a bit smoother?

THANKS!!

Lorelle

You know the average (this means totally your losses over the period) is only 1-2 pounds a week. In four weeks you've lost 7 pounds (I discounted the up .2 as it was probably water retention) and that averages to 1.75 pounds a week. So you are average. Keep up the good work.

Don't forget when you change your activity your muscles will retain a bit of water and you may not show a good loss for a few weeks.

your average weight loss before was ~2.2 a week, which seems reasonable since you started out weighing more. all the people i saw in meetings who had a lot to lose usually lost it much faster than those of us just 20-30lbs above our goal weight.

you are doing great. what matters is that the number is going down pretty consistently.

if weight loss is your only motivation, try finding something else to keep you going, too. like plot your miles on the eliptical trainer on a map to your honeymoon location or get a heart rate monitor and watch how healthy you get as you exercise more and more. maybe take a weight class and watch a buff body emerge.

I agree with Trixiepup. In addition to aerobics you MUST add weight training if you want to boost your metabolism. Adding muscle will of course add pounds, so measure your body fat, not your scale weight. You don't want to be a "cardio bunny" endlessly doing aerobics while your body gets flabbier and flabbier. Believe me, I ran marathons and was fat. I did not get off a plateau until I took up weight training. Keep the elliptical sessions set on increasingly difficult resistance, or do interval training. Try not to eat more food because hard training makes you hungry. It'll work! You'll look better too, not just be lighter.

All good advice--weight training boosts the metabolism. Also vary your points, low one day, high the next, etc. to fool your body. You may lose a little more. Good luck--you're on the right track.

Totally cool advice guys... THANKS!!

One question though - what kind of weight training do you suggest?

Thanks again!

There are good books for women out there using free weights.

I bought a Total Gym and love it.

I've had wonderful success with 'Curves' ...check out the information under the 'Exercise' post ...subject: 'Curves'.

Loosinit

i stumble around the few weight machines in the gym at my work's building. i've read several books on weight lifting, but if you can take a class somewhere, you might benefit much more.

i try to do pushups and situps on a regular basis. i'd like to do a pull up someday.

Hey everyone!!

A great website for female weight trainers (or weight-trainer wannabe/gonnabees) is www.stumptuous.com

I started doing the Body for Life program, which deals heavily w/weight training a couple of months ago. Due to my weird schedule, however, I am putting it off for now and have gone back to counting my points. When I get to the inevitable WW plateau, I plan on incorporating weight training back into my life. Anyway, this website is terrific!! The only thing about lifting weights is, be prepared to gain weight before you start losing! Remember--muscle weighs more than fat!

Good Luck!!!

Cheryl

Oh, when you get to stumptuous.com, go to the "iron" section!